For many decades in Kilmarnock the place to go for shoes, sandals, socks, hose and whatever else one could want for one’s feet, and more, was The Shoe Store.
The store on West Church Street was the bailiwick of Sam and Gladys Watson, who opened it in 1958, a year after they married, and operated it until their retirement, after which their son, H.C., took over and managed the business until it closed last year. For many of those years, Gladys also operated the beauty salon across the street. The far end of West Church Street was a virtual “Watsonville” commercially.
Three years after opening the business, Sam hired Dorothy Keyser to work as a sales clerk and subsequently a manager, a career that lasted for over 40 years. Dorothy later was joined by Gloria Raynor to complete the sales staff. Sam was an astute businessman, and in his advertisements for The Shoe Store on the radio, he often referred to Dorothy and Gloria, thereby giving each of them a distinct public persona in the community. Each year the store’s big sale event was advertised for the anniversary of Dorothy’s having joined the business. The occasion happily recognized her long and faithful service.
At Christmastime, when dilatory shoppers had forgotten to get their presents for family members, Sam willingly would meet them at The Shoe Store on Christmas morning to fit them out for their gifts. In that respect, to many, he was the real Santa Claus, albeit not coming down the chimney.
Dorothy especially liked the Christmas season, decorating the store and meeting with parents to find the right shoes for the little ones. As a native of Lancaster and lifetime resident of the Northern Neck, she was deeply aware of the happenings across our area and knew many of her clientele personally, as well as their family histories. Selling shoes was only part of her job as she saw it; the other part was contributing to the ambience of the store as a community gathering place.
In the realm of business, Dorothy was proficient and professional at every step—she truly thrived on her work. When something happened locally that she thought her customers should know, she would call to tell them, not at all as gossip, but because she cared to keep people informed for the benefit of all.
In her youth, Gloria came to this country from the Philippines, where she had been born in 1947. As with Dorothy, she had a talent for business, and at The Shoe Store she could remember her customers’ taste in shoes. She readily made suggestions that reflected her understanding of who they were and what they would want to buy and wear.
Gloria was also a gregarious person and she was not satisfied merely selling a patron a pair of shoes, she wanted to be certain that the buyers knew that she appreciated their coming to the store. As a naturalized citizen, Gloria was a proud American and she remained equally proud of her oriental heritage. She adopted and embraced her new country with enthusiasm and gratitude.
Earlier this month both Dorothy and Gloria died, five days apart. Each of them epitomized the highest quality of small-town living, giving personal service to patrons and simply being part of the local scene. For their time in the world of trade, they did their part to make shopping locally a genuinely great experience.
Dorothy Lillian Cornwell Keyser, December 16, 1930–August 7, 2025. R.I.P.
Gloria Louise Raynor, October 14, 1947–August 2, 2025. R.I.P.
